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Management Of Psychiatric Emergencies and Associated Comfort Among EMS Physicians in Lombardy, Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2024

Alba Ripoll-Gallardo Open the ORCID record for Alba Ripoll-Gallardo [Opens in a new window] ,
Elisa Scarpolini ,
Giacomo Colzani ,
Roberto Biella ,
Ilaria Offredi ,
Roberto Di Silvestre ,
Claudia Giannotti ,
Giuseppe Maria Sechi ,
Roberto Fumagalli  and
Rita E Fioravanzo
...Show all authors
Alba Ripoll-Gallardo*
Affiliation:
SSD AAT Milano, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Dipartimento di Emergenza e Accettazione, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
Elisa Scarpolini
Affiliation:
SSD AAT Milano, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Dipartimento di Emergenza e Accettazione, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
Giacomo Colzani
Affiliation:
SSD AAT Milano, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Dipartimento di Emergenza e Accettazione, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
Roberto Biella
Affiliation:
Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU) Lombardia, Milano, Italy
Ilaria Offredi
Affiliation:
Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU) Lombardia, Milano, Italy
Roberto Di Silvestre
Affiliation:
Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU) Lombardia, Milano, Italy
Claudia Giannotti
Affiliation:
SSD AAT Milano, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Dipartimento di Emergenza e Accettazione, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
Giuseppe Maria Sechi
Affiliation:
Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU) Lombardia, Milano, Italy
Roberto Fumagalli
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
Rita E Fioravanzo
Affiliation:
Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU) Lombardia, Milano, Italy
Riccardo Stucchi
Affiliation:
SSD AAT Milano, Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Dipartimento di Emergenza e Accettazione, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
*
Corresponding author: Alba Ripoll Gallardo; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives

The aims of this study were to explore the knowledge of EMS physicians (EMSPs) on the legal aspects related to the management of prehospital psychiatric emergencies, assess their degree of comfort, and measure their perceived communication skills.

Methods

A survey was distributed to the 376 EMSPs working in the prehospital setting in Lombardy, Italy. Knowledge of medico-legal aspects was measured through multiple-choice questions; the Comfort Score (CS) and perceived Communication Skills Score (CSS) were calculated using Likert Scale questions. CS ranged from 11 points (lowest) to 44 (highest); CSS ranged from 8 points (lowest) to 32 (highest).

Results

A total of 272 EMSPs answered the survey (RR= 72.3%); 45.2% were women. Mean age was 45.76 years (SD 8.8). Mean percentage of correct knowledge test answers was 52.4 (SD 12.3); 81.3% believed to have little knowledge of the Italian legislation regarding this topic. Mean CS was 29.3 (SD 5.5); mean CSS was 19.1 (SD 3.9). A higher percentage of correct answers in the knowledge test was associated with lower CS (P = 0.019). Higher self-appraised knowledge of the Italian legislation was associated with higher CS (P < 0.001) and higher CSS (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

These findings should prompt policy makers to ensure proper training and support for EMSPs in the matter of prehospital psychiatric emergency management.

Keywords

psychiatryemergency medical systemtrainingprehospital
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e267
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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